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More containerboard producers have followed suit on an April price hike. After an initial move by International Paper, Smurfit, PKG, Norampac, Pratt, and RKT have all announced $60/ton April price hikes for containerboard, according to Wilde. IP, Georgia-Pacific, TIN, Kapstone, and Longview Fibre have already announced similar price hikes. In total, producers representing about 85% of the North American capacity are now out with the April hike. The attempt follows January's $50 - $70/ton price hike. Markets remain tight due to strong export demand, capacity closures, and wood supply issues. At the same time, fiber costs, both pulpwood and wastepaper, are surging. In the southern U.S., weather has also caused wood production issues. All of these factors suggest that the prospects are good. The biggest question will be the relatively anemic rebound in domestic corrugated box volumes, according to Wilde.
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